Isometric exercising device with indicator



Jan. 28, 1969 G. M. BROWN 3,424,005

ISOMETRIG EXERCISING DEVICE WITH INDICATOR Filed Jan. 6, 1966 I N VEN TOR.

United States Patent 3,424,005 ISOMETRIC EXERCISING DEVICE WITH INDICATOR George M. Brown, RED. 2, Box 144, Canterbury, Conn. 06331 Filed Jan. 6, 1966, Ser. No. 519,102 U.S. Cl. 73-379 Int. Cl. G01] 5/06; A63b 21/20 9 Claims ABSTRACT OF THE DISCLOSURE This invention relates to isometric exercising devices and deals more particularly with an apparatus which combines the advantages of isometric exercising with at least some of the rewards of conventional exercising in that the user is able to obtain some indication of the magnitude of the forces which he is exerting on a substantially immovable object.

A recent development in physical fitness exercising involves the concept of applying a force to a relatively immovable object without necessarily achieving any perceptible movement of the object. Such a system of exercises has been referred to as the isometric contraction system. A typical exercise usually involves a push or a pull on such an object and is generally sustained for a period of from six to twelve seconds per exercise. It will be apparent that the actual forces exerted can be estimated only from the personal experience of the individual performing the exercises and to the uninitiated at least this defect may discourage many from adopting this system of exercising in developing physical fitness.

It is the general object of the present invention to provide an apparatus which permits the individual to exert these isometric contractions or forces and at the same time to obtain some indication of the magnitude of the forces which he is exerting not only to sustain his interest in this form of exercising, but also to give him some indication of his rate of progress as a result of following the isometric contraction system over an extended period of time.

The drawing shows a preferred embodiment of the invention and such embodiment will be described, but it will be understood that various changes may be made from the construction disclosed, and that the drawing and description are not to be construed as defining or limiting the scope of the invention, the claims forming a part of this specification being relied upon for that purpose.

Of the drawing:

FIG. 1 is a perspective view of an exercising apparatus according to the present invention showing one from of exercise which can be accomplished therewith;

FIG. 2 is a schematic view showing the electrical components of the apparatus in FIG. 1;

FIG. 3 is a perspective view of a portion of the apparatus shown in FIG. 1.

Turning now to the drawing in greater detail, FIG. 1 shows a pair of vertically arranged standards or supports 10, 10 which are rigidly supported between the floor 12 and the ceiling of a room. A resilient fiberglass bar or pole 16 is mounted generally horizontally on the supports 10, 10 by suitable means best shown in FIG. 3 so 3,424,005 Patented Jan. 28, 1969 that the subject 18 can exert a force generally laterally of the bar. As shown, a vertically upwardly directed force is being exerted on the bar 16 by the shoulders and arms of the individual. This force is reacted through the individuals legs and back downwardly to the floor 12. In such an exercise the bar is subjected to a substantial bending moment and being of resilient material it will flex considerably. While this form of exercise is one which the present invention is especially suitable, it should, of course, be recognized that other forms of exercise might be adapted for use with the generally horizontally disposed bar 16.

In accordance with the present invention, the resilient bar 16 is pivotally supported at either end by a pivot pin 20 best shown in FIG. 3. The pivot pin 20 comprises part of the bar mounting means of FIG. 3, and said means will also be seen to include a fixed portion 22 which is adjustably attached to the support 10 by a thumbscrew 24. The screw 24 can be inserted in a suitable opening provided therefor in the fixed portion 22 and threadably received in any one of a plurality of threaded openings 26, 26 in the support 10 as shown.

The mounting means of FIG. 3 further comprises a bar retaining portion or lever 28 which is pivotally connected to the fixed portion 22 by the aforementioned pivot pin 20 as shown. The pivoted end 30 of the bar retaining portion 28 extends outwardly some distance beyond the support 10 while the free end 32 of said portion 28 extends inwardly and defines a suitable sleeve for receiving one end of the bar 16. As so constructed, the bar retaining portion 28 functions as a lever and will be seen to move angularly with respect to the fixed portion 22 in response to the lateral flexing of the bar 16 as the latter is subjected to a bending load as shown in FIG. 1.

The mounting means shown in FIG. 3 is generally similar to that provided at the opposite end of the bar 16 as indicated generally in FIG. 1. More particularly, the left hand mounting means shown in FIG. 3, and the righthand mounting means will be seen from FIG. 1 to include a bar retaining portion or lever which is pivotally connected to a fixed poltion, the latter being adjustably attached to the support 10 by a thumbscrew as described hereinabove with reference to FIG. 3.

Turning now to the construction of theleft-hand mounting means in greater detail, means for sensing relative angular movement between the bar retaining portion 28 and the stationary support 10 is provided. Preferably, and as shown said means comprises a rack gear 36 aflixed to the free end of the lever 28 in generally perpendicular relation to the axis of the bar 16. A resistance type potentiometer 38 is rotatably mounted in the corresponding end of the fixed portion 22 and a pair of meshing spur gears 40 and 42 'drivingly connect the rotary potentiometer 38 to the rack gear 36 so a to cause the electrical resistance of the potentiometer 38 to vary in response to angular displacement of the lever 28. As so constructed a convenient electromechanical device is provided for sensing relative movement between the fixed and movable portions of the bar mounting means. Finally, a dust cover 44 is removably attached to the fixed portion 22 to provide a mounting .means for the left-hand portion of the bar which is generally similar in appearance to that on the right-hand portion as best shown in FIG. 1.

In further accordance with the present invention, visual indicating means is provided for use in conjunction with the motion sensing means just described so that one exerting a force on the bar 16 is given a visual indication of the relative force which he is exerting upon said bar. Preferably, and as shown, the indicating means comprises a galvanometer 46 which is electrically connected to the potentiometer 38 to cause deflection of a needle relative to a fixed scale as best shown in FIG. 1. Preferably, and as shown, in FIG. 1 the housing for the galvanometer also includes a suitable battery 48 for providing a reference voltage to feed a reference C current to the potentiometer 38. As indicated in the schematic electrical diagram shown in FIG. 2, the reference voltage or potential can be preset by a zero adjusting control 50 and when so set the reference potential will of course be varied in response to the resistance offered by the potentiometer 38 to cause deflection of the needle of the galvanometer 46 in response to the deflections caused by lateral forces exerted on the bar 16.

The invention claimed is:

1. An exercising apparatus comprising a stationary support, an elongated bar of resilient material, bar mounting means carried by said support, said means including a bar retaining portion for retaining said bar for limited flexing movement with respect to said support in proportion to the magnitude of a laterally applied force, motion sensing means associated with said mounting means to sense relative movement between said bar retaining portion and said stationary support, and indicating means responsive to said sensing means for visually displaying said relative movement to one exerting such a force on said bar.

2. An exercising apparatus as set forth in claim 1 wherein said bar mounting means includes a fixed portion attachable to said stationary support, said bar retaining portion being pivotally connected to said fixed portion, and said apparatus being further characterized by means for restraining said bar at a location spaced from said bar retaining .portion.

3. An exercising apparatus as set forth in claim 1 wherein said motion sensing means comprises an electromechanical device associated with said bar mounting means and adapted to vary the electric potential of an applied current in response to such movement between said bar retaining portion and said support.

4. An exercising apparatus as set forth in claim 2 wherein said motion sensing means comprises an electromechanical device located between said fixed portion and said bar retaining portion of said bar mounting means and adapted to vary the electric potential of an applied current in response to relative angular movement between said fixed and pivotally connected bar retaining portions, and wherein said visual indicating means is electrically connected to said device and is electrically responsive to said variations in potential.

5. An exercising apparatus as set forth in claim 1 wherein said resilient bar mounting means includes a fixed portion attachable to said stationary support, said bar retaining portion being pivotally connected to said fixed portion, and said apparatus being further characterized by means for restraining said bar at a location spaced from said bar retaining portion.

6. An exercising apparatus as set forth in claim 5 wherein said bar retaining portion comprises a lever pivotally connected to said fixed portion at one end and having a free end which defines a sleeve for receiving one end of said bar.

7. An exercising apparatus as set forth in claim 6 wherein said means for restraining said bar at a location spaced from said bar retaining portion comprises a second support, and a second bar mounting means, said mounting means having a second bar retaining portion adapted to receive the opposite end of said bar.

8. An exercising apparatus as set forth in claim 6 wherein said motion sensing means comprises a rack gear afiixed to said free end of said lever in generally perpendicular relation to the axis of said bar, a rotary potentiometer carried by said fixed portion, and gear means drivingly connecting said rack to said potentiometer so that the electrical resistance of said potentiometer can be varied in proportion to the angular deflection of the bar, and wherein said visual indicating means is electrically connected to said potentiometer and is responsive to variations in potential caused by said resistance changes to provide a visual indication of the angular deflection of the bar with respect to a reference position when a reference potential is impressed upon said potentiometer.

9. An exercising apparatus as set forth in claim 7 wherein said second bar mounting means has a Second fixed portion attachable to said second support, said first and second supports extending vertically upwardly from a floor or the like, and said first and second fixed portions being adjustably attachable to their respective supports so that said bar can be arranged horizontally at various heights above the floor.

References Cited UNITED STATES PATENTS 911,925 2/1909 Zeno 27283 3,190,648 6/ 1965 Kallenbach 27279 3,207,511 9/1965 Hoffman 272-79 X FOREIGN PATENTS 555,634 6/1957 Italy. 163,770 12/ 1964 U.S.S.R.

ANTON O. OECHSLE, Primary Examiner.

M. R. PAGE, Assistant Examiner.

US. Cl. X.R. 

